Hand brake



March 17, 1931. R. J. OLANDER HAND BRAKE Filed Dot. 7, 192g l w VIII-Illlllllunl l. Illllllllllllllllllm IIIIIIII I ull..

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Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROLAND J'. OLANDER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO W. H. MINER, INC., `O1? CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A VCORPORA'IJION OF DELAWARE HAND BRAKE Application filed October 7, 1929.

This invention relates to improvements in hand brakes.

One object of the invention is to provide an efficient ratchet hand brake of the vertical staff type, for railway cars, of simple construction, wherein the parts are so designed as to avoid unnecessary weight without sacrificing strength.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a brake of the character indicated, including a ratchet member and coperating locking dog, a supporting `housing and a fulcrum housing having an operating ratchet lever connected thereto, simple and ellicient means in the form of a single retaining and locking element for holding all of the parts assembled, the locking element being so designed as to serve .also as the pivot member forV the locking `dog of the brakes.

A still further obj ect of the invention is to provide a ratchet hand brake of the vertical staff type including a locking dog and cooperating ratchet means, wherein means is provided for housing thedog'and cooperating ratchet means and protecting the same from dust, dirt and other foreign material Jtopi-event clogging of the parts, which would interfere with the eliicient operation of the brakev -mech a nism.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following. Y

In the drawing forming apart of this speciication, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through `the end wall of a railway car, showing my improved hand brake mechanism in connection therewith. .1T igureQ is a top plan view of the brake mechanism illustrated in F i gure 1, the end wall of the car being shown in section. And Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, partly brokenavvay, corresponding substantially to the line 8-3 of Figure 1.

In said dra-wing, the end wall of the car is ydesignated by 10 and has the improved brake mechanism fixed thereto. My improvements .are employed in connection with a ratchet handbiake of the verticalstafi. type, the upper :portion of the staff being indicated bv 1l. As will be understood, thelower end of the staff, which is not shown, has the usual Serial No. 397,781.

brake chain connected thereto, the saine being adapted to be wound thereon in order to apply the brakes.

My improved construction comprises, broadly, a combined support and housing member A; a fulcruni housing B a combined bearing and cover plate C; a Vbrake staff D; a ratchet member l); an operating lever F; a locking dog G and a combined retaining member and locking dog pivot H.

The lhousing and supporting member A vis in the form of acasting'having a vertical wall section 12 which is secured to the end wall 10 of the car, rivets being preferably .employed for fastening the same. The housing proper of the casting A comprises top and bottom walls 13 and 14, which are spaced apart as shown, and a vertical wall 15 -connecting the top and bottom walls. As most clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wall l5 comprises a cylindrical portion V16 and spaced side Wall sections 17 -17. The bottom wall 14 is providedwith a ournal opening 18, which is reinforced by a depending annular flange section. The top wall 13 of the housing A i s also provided with Va journal opening 19 which is concentric with the opening 1S but of slightly greater diameter. The opening 19 is also reinforced by an upstanding annular flange 20.

The fulcrum housing B is also in the form of a casting and has a partly cylindrical portion 21 and a lateral extension 22 having side walls 23-23 and a top wall 2li. The top wall Z-l, at the cylindrical section of the housing, is thickened as clearly shown in Figure 1 and provided `with an interior journal pocket 25 adapted to cooperate `with the upper end of the ratchet member E, as hereinafter pointed out. The operatinnr handle or lever F of the brake is of well known form and has the upper end thereof pivotally mounted within the housing B between the side walls 28-23 thereof. In the drawing, the upper end portion ofthe operating lever only is shown.v it vbeing understood that the same is provided with the usual hand grip portion at the outer end thereof by which the same may be manipulated. The inner end of the member F is provided with a pocket 26 within which a sliding pavvl 27 is mounted. The lever F is pivotally supported on a bolt 28 extending transversely through the lever and the side walls 23-23 ot the housing B. 'lhe pivot bolt 28 also serves as a limiting stop for the pawl, said bolt being accommodated within the cut away portion 29 ot the pawl and adapted to engage the inner end wall of the cut away portion when the pawl is projected to its .tull extent. A spring 30 is interposed between the inner end of the pocket 26 and the pawl QT, the pawl being recessed as indicated at 3l, to accommodate the trent end oi? the spring. As most clearly illustrated in Figure l, the top wall of the housing B is provided with a depending flange-like section which forms a relatively short end wall. connecting the side walls Eil-Q3. As will be evident, the dependingwall section 32 provides a shield preventing dust and dirt entering the housing. The cylindrical portion 16 of the housing li is provided with a thickened :tion 33 at the bottom thereo't, which section is oti'set with respect to the cylindrical wall, so as to provide an arcuate retaining shoulder 34. rl`he side walls of the housing B are connected at the bottom by a transverse web portion 35, which is substantially in alinement with the thickened bottom portion or section 33 of the cylindrical section ot' the housing. The housing B is journaled for rotary movement on the supporting housing A, th-e former being provided with a depending annular iange 36 within which the upstanding iange 2O of the housing A is telescoped.

lllhe ratchet member E is in the torni oi a casting having a vertical openingot substantially square cross section, within which the upper end portion of the brake statt l) cr:- tends. The upper end section ot the brake staff, as shown, is ot square cross section alsov` so as to tit the opening oif the ratchet member, whereby the sta-tl and ratchet member are rotatable in unison. The ratchet member is provided with two sets oi ratchet teeth ST and 38. the teeth 37 cooperating` with the pawl 2T ot the operating lever ,li in a well known manner, so as to ei'le-ct rotation of the brake statt D when the lever F is oscillated while being disposed in a horizontal position. Between the two sets o'f ratchet teeth 3T and the member E has a cylindrical journal portion i9 fitting the journal opening 19 ot the housing A. At the bottom end, below the ratchetteeth 38, the member E has a cylindrical bearing section 40 of smaller diameter than the `journal portion 3E), journaled in the opening 18 of the housing il At the upper end the ratchet member ri is provided with a cylindrical journal portion Ail which rotatably lits the pocket 25 ot' the housing B.

The locking dog G comprises an operating handle portion oil'set with respect to the main body portion, and a tooth section 13 at the inner end thereof adapted to cooperate with thc ratchet teeth 38 in order to prevent retrograde movement or rotation oi the brake steli' D. The tooth i3 of the dog is urged yieldingly into engagement with tie ratchet member 38 by the spring eti interposed between the vertical end wall of the supportinol housing A and the inner side ot the locking dog G. he locking dog is pivotally supported wit-hin the housing A by means of the combined reta-inin member and locking dog pivot H, as hereinafter pointed out.

rllhc con'ibined bearing and cover plate C is in the torni ol: a casting having a straighttransverse end i'ace adapted to bear on the upstanding portion ot the vertical end wall l2 ot the casting A.. At the opposite side, the combined bearingand cover plate C is provided with an upstanding arcuate wall lo adapted to 'lit about the cylindrical section of the casting B and forming a bearing and guiding seat therefor. rlhe casting C is cut awa-y inwardly, beneath the wall 46, thereby providing an arcuate shoulder 47, which overlaps the shoulder 3ft of the housing B. .fis will be evident, the combined bearing and cover plate thus serves to hold the housing B assembled with the housing A. rflic combined bearing and cover plate is detachably secured to the housing A, by means ot the bolt H, which has the head thereof disposed in a pocket 48 provided in the member C. rEhe bolteatends through the top and bottom valls of the housing A and is held in tired position by a nut at the bottom end thereof engaging the bottom side of said housing. The bolt H also extends through the locking dog G and serves as the pivot member ior the same. As most clearly shown in Figure l, the shank ot the pivot bolt is enclosed by a cylindrical or tubular sleeve member elf) which protects the bolt against wear due to the pivotal swinging movement oi the lool-'.- Aing dog. As shown, the top and bottom ends ot the sleeve 4f) are preferably fitted within the openings in the top and bottom walls ot the housing l5, through which the pivot bolt passes.

ln the operation of my improved. hand brake mechanism, when it is desired to apply the brakes, the operating handle F is raised to horizontal position, so as to engage the pawl thereof with the tooth 37 ot the ratchet member. Upon oscillation of the handle l? in a horizontal path, intermittent rotation ot the ratchet member will be effected, thereby causing rotation oi.t the stan"Vl D and tightening ot the brake chain. As will be obvious, during the oscillation ol the operating lever F, the .tulcrum housing li will be rotated or oscillated about the brake stall on the supporting housing A. rlhe dog Gr which is yieldingly urged into engagement with the ratchet member 38, prevents backward or retrograde movement of the brake staff. Then it is desired to release the brakes, after the lever F has been droppecL so as to assume the vertical position shown in Figure 1, the handle of the dog is pulled outwardly, thereby disengaging the tooth 43 thereof from the ratchet member and permitting the brake staff to freely rotate in a direcion to unwind the brake chain therefrom.

As will be evident from the preceding description, taken in connection with the drawing, l have provided a very simple and ellicient means for holding the parts of the brake mechanism assembled, comprising the retaining element which also forms the pivot for the locking dog. By this means, the locking dog is held in assembled relation with the supporting housing and through the medium of the combined bearing and cover plate C, the locking bolt or element also holds the fulcruin housing assembled with the supporting housing. As will be obvious, the upper end of the brake staff and the ratchet member carried thereby is held in assembled position by engagement of the fulcrum housing therewith.

From the preceding descripton taken in connection with the drawing, it will be seen that the members A and B together constitute a complete housing both at the top, bottom and around all sides, for the ratchet member E and parts immediately operatively associated therewith and further that, even though the member B is necessarily movable with respect to the member A, entianceof dirt or other foreign matter through the joint between these members is prevented by reason of the telescoping flange 36. By reason of the construction disclosed, particularly with reference to the protection against entrance of dirt and other foreign mattei', the improved brake is especially adaptable for useV on ore cars and other cars employed for the carrying of coal and like granular and dusty material. Further, the improved housing arrangement will be found to be of materially less weight than other brakes of corresponding type which further adds to the advantages of my brake in the matter of cost of manufacture.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a hand brake of the vertical staff type, for railway cars, the combination with a rotary staff ;l of ratchet means on said staft';.a supporting housing fixed to the car, said housing having journal openings in the top and bottom thereof, journal members on said staffl rotatably supported in said openings; a fulcrum housing rotatably mounted on the supporting housing, said fulcrum housing having a depending annular flange telescoped over an upstanding bearing flange on the supporting housing, said fulcruin housing also having an arcuate shoulder concentric with said depending flange; an operating lever eX- tending into the fulcrum housing and pivotally connected thereto for swinging movement in a vertical plane; means on said lever adapted to engage the ratchet means of the stall' to effect rotation of the latter; and a combined locking and bearing plate detachably secured to the supporting housing, said plate having au arcuate bearing portion adapted to cooperate with the fulcrum housing and an arcuate shoulder engaging over the arcuate shoulder of the fulcrum housing to hold the same assenrbled with the supporting housing.

2. In a, h and brake of the vertical stall type, for railway cars, the combination with a rotary staff of ratchetineans on said staff; a supporting housing fixed to the car, said housing having' journal openings in the top and bottom thereof, said staff having journal members thereon rotatably supported in said openings; a locking dog pivoted within the supporting housing and cooperating with the staff to prevent retrograde movement of the same; a fulcrum housing rotatably mounted on the supporting housing, said fulcrum housing having a depending annular flange telescoped over an upstanding bearing flange on the supporting housing, said fulcruin housing also having an arculate shoulder concentric with said depending flange, an operating lever extending into the fulcruin housing and pivot'- ally connected thereto; means on said lever adapted to engage the ratchet means of the staff to effect rotation of the latter; a combined locking and bearing plate detachably secured to the supporting housing, said plate having an arcuate bearing portion adapted to cooperate with the fulcrum housing and an arcuate shoulder engaging over the arcuate shoulder of the fulcrum housing to hold the saine assembled with the supporting housing; a pivot holt extending through the dog, said bolt being anchored to the supporting housing and combined locking and bearing plate to detachably secure the latter to the supporting housing; and cooperating means on the supporting housing and combined locking and bearing plate to prevent turning of said plate on the pivot bolt.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of October 1929.

ROLAND J. OLANDER. 

